Mistletoe, wine and an affair to forget
Sunday December 18 2005
THE senior account manager was merrily limbo-ing at the Christmas office party when he collapsed on his back and had to be carted off to A&E. Deirdre*, 29, who works in advertising, said their recent office party was "hilarious" and that the senior account manager escaped serious injury, but had to endure the "walk of shame" the next day when office juniors giggled mercilessly as he limped past.
Office party season is officially upon us, and according to party-goers across thenation, this Christmas has been "mayhem" so far,with some workers going to several parties.
"I've been to my girlfriend's party already - it was formal and fairly boring, to be honest, but I've got two more parties to go to . . . one with my department and one for our whole company," says Chris, 31, a banker in Dublin.
He tells me that last year four of his friends came from another office party and "crashed" his party because they had a free bar.
Despite Chris having a girlfriend at the time, he "ended up with an amazing girl" who was over from the London office and was conveniently staying at the hotel where the party was on. Asked if this was something he would normally do, he laughed: "Of course not, but at Christmas parties it's just too easy to pull."
Chris's story supports the findings of a recent survey where 44 per cent of men polled said they had an affair or fling with a co-worker at a Christmas office party.
In a similar survey, 46 per cent of women had been with somebody at a Christmas party and most had never told their partners.
"It's the season to be unfaithful," jokes account manager Catherine, 30, who split up with her boyfriend, 31, last year when it emerged that he had been seen kissing a girl ten years younger than him at his office party.
Consequently, that same year Catherine kissed James, an engineer at her office party and they are still together. Catherine goes on to explain that her office-party gossip has been "scandalous" this year. She tells me that a co-worker, who is in a serious six- year relationship with his girlfriend, "ended up" with another man from her department. Another colleague was so drunk at the end of the night the taxi man asked her to get out of his car as she was about to throw up.
This year, Catherine had the responsibility of organising her department's "do". Her budget was "limited" and, she says, the gallons of cheap wine being consumed contributed to "everyone being absolutely out of it".
The Bridget Jones-style Christmas is something that resonates with many single Irish women. "I love being single, but at this time of year I suppose you think a bit differently and you have this feeling that you should have a Mr Darcy chasing you around," said nurse Sandra, 32.
A group of single Irish "city boys" working in Dublin all agreed they'd like to have a girlfriend at this time of year. One of them joked: "But a girlfriend's for life not justfor Christmas."
Dan Yorke, Director of XFactor Dates, says: "It's no surprise that people don't want to be alone at Christmas. It is more shocking to find they seem so willing to put their relationships in jeopardy. The same dating rules should apply to the Christmas party as to the rest of the year."
Singles looking for love on the Christmas party scene may find it easier than usual to meet a partner. Researchers have found that office parties fuel high drama between the sexes and a quarter of people surveyed said they had met their future spouse at an office do.
"If you are looking for love there's a good chance that the office party will offer you salvation," said Mr Yorke.
Many workers have referred to the office partyas a social minefield whereoffice politics dictate the smallest party detail such as seating arrangements.
At her Christmas party, graphic designer Cathy, 25, says there was "a fight for the seats at the dining table because there are certain people you just don't want to be stuck next to for the night". Cathy enjoys the whole Christmas party thing, but says that she'd prefer to get a decent bonus for her hard work.
Colleagues at her party, however, were seriously indulging in the festive cheer and she says a fellow designer "puked into his pint glass" at the end of the night and came into work still drunk thenext morning.
Research says that one in 10 male workers will be sick in front of their colleagues dueto excessive drinking at theiroffice party this season. Festive revellers should think carefully about their Christmas outfits too. Cathy describes how one of her girlfriends was wearing a boob tube which slipped down while dancing with the boss: "It was so funny but she's been very embarrassed in work 'One girl was wearing a boob tube which slipped down while dancing with the boss. It was so funny but she's been embarrassed in work since'
ever since." Glamour is very much on the Christmas agenda with some Irish companies organising bespoke parties for their employees.
Event management company, Bravo! produces exclusive parties nationwide for high-profile clients such as Bank of Ireland, O2, Bord Gais, eBay, Hertz, Symantec, KPMG and Budget Travel. For selected parties, illusionist Keith Barry will entertain and Apres Match, the comedy act, will also appear.
Bravo! Managing Director Ciaran Hynes said that this year the Hollywood theme, Christmas with the Stars is very popular with clients, as is The Oscars, which isused by clients to award staff performance and celebrate company achievements over the year.
Other favourite themes include Red Hot in Rio, featuring lambada dancers and samba drummers and a more opulent Elegant White Christmas with the party venue being decked out in white lilies, silver birch branches andgiant white beanbags.
For many, the office party symbolises the beginning of festivities and is the first opportunity for celebration.
Office worker Carmel explains: "It's been a tough year and our office party was a total wind down. I always go a bit nuts because I know it's the official start to the holidays - and I deserve it."
In terms of drinking, the Irish are likely to be less abstemious this year compared to last year.
Almost half of readers polled by Irishhealth.com this year have said that they do not intend to drink less this Christmas. Asked how hisoffice party had been,one accountant said, "along weekend of sex, drugs and booze".
Big or small, glamorous or not so glamorous, the Christmas office party has gained mythic notoriety for its scandal and salaciousness. For some, it is an occasion to meet the love of their lives, an opportunity to climb the career ladder or simply a time to completely let loose.
The seasonal office party remains as embedded in tradition as open fires andturkey dinners. So there seems little escape.
Those who have already committed office party faux pas this year might remember the words of comedienne Phyllis Diller: "I'll tell you what I don't like about Christmas office parties - looking for a new job afterwards."
All partygoers' names have been changed
- Celine McGillycuddy
